Symphony performance wows audience

BY MICHAEL J. RUDOLF

As the house lights came up following Saturday’s inaugural performance of the Northern Tier Symphony Orchestra, the applause from the standing ovation thundered louder than the tympanis in the orchestra.

A capacity crowd of more than 600 people enjoyed the orchestra’s debut at the Tunkhannock Area Middle School auditorium. As they exited, audience members were filled with superlatives about the concert.

“It was outstanding. Probably in my opinion, one of the best musical classics I’ve heard in Tunkhannock,” said Harry Sharpe of Tunkhannock.

“I think it’s top drawer. How high can you put it?” was the reaction from James Billings of Lake Winola.

“I thought they did very well,” commented Don Miller of Factoryville.

“We thought they did a professional job. We felt they warmed up and got better as each piece progressed,” noted Henry Spering of Montrose.

“It was amazing. I think it’s a great uplift for our community,” said Rev. Ric Polmounter of Tunkhannock.

The performance drew visitors not just from the local area, but from far and wide.

“It’s fantastic. Music is our first love,” said George Unicoli of Lake Ariel.

“I think this is just what we need more of,” added his wife JoAnn.

“Awesome,” was the only word Gloria Williams of Dallas could find to describe the event.

“It was a great opportunity for this area – good classical music,” said Carolyn Stroka of Dallas.

“Oh, it was absolutely fantastic. A wonderful performance,” stated Carol Wasel of Moscow.

The orchestra, under Conductor Robert Helmacy, performed three pieces on its inaugural program.

The concert opened with “The Rakoczy (Hungarian) March” by Hector Berlioz, a relatively short and light piece that the audience seemed very familiar with.

The orchestra then performed Georges Bizet’s “Carmen Suites I and II” with instrumental versions of pieces from the famous opera. The variations of the music from fanciful to thunderous brought the audience to its feet at its conclusion.

After intermission, the concert concluded with Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5.” This piece, lasting more than an hour, demonstrated the orchestra’s versatility and expertise.

Lisa Mazzarella of WVIA, who introduced the performance, said she felt the effect of the music on the audience.

“It’s electric in here,” Mazzarella said.

“I’m ecstatic for the people of Wyoming County to have such an orchestra in their own back yard,” she added.

The conductor was equally thrilled to have been able to present such an event.

“I’m glad that so many people are so happy,” said Helmacy.

For some of the musicians, the response from the audience was not the only exciting part of the evening, They said merely being able to perform with such an orchestra was rewarding.

“It meant a lot because as a student this is a huge step for me,” said Justin Decker, a violinist from Moscow.

“It was a great opportunity for all of us,” said viola player Andrew Jackloski of Edwardsville.

“I think the response was mostly shock and awe. I don’t think they expected anything like this,” Jackloski added.